Sermon on the Mount

TIM WILKIN

Published 10:48 pm, Sunday, February 16, 2014

Last week, NBA superstar LeBron James was asked who would make up his Mount Rushmore of NBA players.

Well, nobody asked me, but I am going to tell you a thing or two of three about Mount Rushmore. First question: Do you know what presidents are carved into America's most famous mountain in South Dakota?

Choosing just four players or events or anything else is one hard chore. You will most likely disagree with some or all of my selections. And that is fine. I have opinions on national sports as well as sports in the Capital Region. And let's throw in anything else as long as we're at it.

My local college sports coaches Mount Rushmore: Siena's Mike Deane. RPI/Union's Ned Harkness. UAlbany's Bob Ford. And UAlbany's Doc Sauers. Some might say Fran McCaffery, because he took Siena to three NCAA Tournaments, but Mike Deane put Siena on the map. Everything Harkness touched seemed to turn to gold. If there are better football (Ford) or basketball (Sauers) minds in this area, let me know.

My Capital Region sports events Mount Rushmore: Opening Day at Saratoga. The Travers. The Albany Cup, the crosstown basketball rivalry between UAlbany and Siena. The Mayor's Cup: After what happened last month between Union and RPI on the ice, it will be a must-see for years to come.

My best thoroughbred horses Mount Rushmore (that I have seen in person): Easy Goer. Rachel Alexandra. Zenyatta. Real Quiet (I picked him to win the 1998 Kentucky Derby, so there is a sentimental reason).

My Capital Region pro coaches Mount Rushmore: Phil Jackson (before winning 11 NBA championships, he ran the CBA's Albany Patroons for five years in the 1980s). George Karl (another Patroons alum, he was here twice before becoming one of the top NBA coaches). John Cunniff (no one better in leading the Albany River Rats from 1996-2001). Buck Showalter (Albany-Colonie Yankees in the late 1980s).

My sports movies characters Mount Rushmore: Clubber Lang (pity the fool who disagrees), Norman Dale (of course you remember him in "Hoosiers"), Rocky Balboa. Al Czervik ("Caddyshack": "This is the worst-looking hat I ever saw. What, when you buy a hat like this, I bet you get a free bowl of soup.")